Seems like something non-diabetics may want to consider?
https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/is-metformin-a-wonder-dr...
https://healthcare.utah.edu/press-releases/2023/07/common-di...
I was able to get the prescription from my doctor by presenting evidence and the rationale and design for the TAME trial.
He was comfortable with this due to the strong safety history of the drug. Insurance covers it (though it’s very cheap anyway) and I pay nothing out of pocket. I live in Canada and also have private insurance through work.
I had some gastrointestinal issues initially, but they weren’t serious, and my body adapted fairly quickly as they want away. I tried taking metformin while doing an 18:6 intermittent fast and gastrointestinal symptoms returned, so I won’t be doing that again.
There is some debate about the benefits and risks of metformin, but so far I haven’t experienced negative side effects of concern to me. I’ve had various tests over the past five years—blood, urine, body composition, etc.
As for the TAME trial, while there have been positive developments, I’m now doubtful it will ever actually run. I have a prediction market on Manifold right now that shows a 25% chance it will be listed on clinicaltrials.gov by the end of the year.
I’m not trying to promote the market (the main benefit to me is more market participants hopefully means better forecasting), but if anyone’s interested, it’s here: https://manifold.markets/SimonSmith/will-the-targeting-aging...
Men’s use of diabetes drug just before conception is linked to a 40% increase in birth defects, study finds
https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/28/health/paternal-metformin-use...
He's a reasonable doc is is interested in health and longevity but is rather conservative in his assessments.
Attia and Huberman appear to be cautious as well: https://podcastnotes.org/huberman-lab/journal-club-with-dr-p...
2/3 cited are practicing doctors, and Huberman is, well, Huberman.
Attia for example changed his mind on fasting too recently. When that’s what arguably made him famous (see Limitless with Chris Hemsworth for example).
The argument of doubling down on exercise in place of metformin seems a bit extreme for example. Most of us do not have the privilege to do so even if we’re quite active.
[1]: Targeting Aging with Metformin (TAME) Trial—https://www.afar.org/tame-trial
For me it really fucks up your gut biome on occasion - the running to the toilet incidents has reduced in the beginning since I changed my diet to low carb but there are still some odd days where I can't stray too from home.
Since it’s dirt cheap, not a controlled substance, and safe without any drug interactions I think my doc didn’t really care. And I think 90 days of 2grams a day was like $3 without insurance. I remember thinking how it’s cheaper than aspirin or Tylenol.